SYLVIA NANA DESEBTI 83 



occurrence, in Tripoli and Cyrenaica, although I should imagine the 

 species occurs in some parts of the Vilayet, whatever may be the case 

 further east. Capt. Shelley includes it in his list of the birds of 

 Egypt, on the authority of Canon Tristram, although he had not 

 himself met with the species there. 



On most of the semi-desert plains of Central Tunisia, as well as in 

 the salt-marsh country further south, S. conspicillata may be found 

 most abundantly duting the spring months. In the vicinity of the 

 town of Tunis, and at Hamman-Lif, I have also found it plentiful, and 

 Blanc the naturalist informs me that a favourite breeding haunt of 

 the species is among the Mimosa bushes in the gardens at the last- 

 mentioned place. Bushes of any kind, however, are resorted to by 

 this Warbler for breeding purposes, and in South Tunisia the white 

 broom, and many of the low-growing salsolaceous plants, are often 

 selected for that object. In its mode of life and in its general habits 

 it greatly resembles the Whitethroats, to which, indeed, it is most 

 closely related. In the south of the Regency S. conspicillata commences 

 nesting operations about the middle or end of March, but in the north 

 the date is considerably later, and nests with eggs may be found even 

 in June. The nest, which is usually placed in or at the foot of a low 

 bush, is cup-shaped and bears considerable resemblance to that of the 

 Whitethroat. The eggs, four or five in number, are of a greenish- 

 white colour, freckled all over, but chiefly at the blunt end, with 

 minute spots of greenish-grey or greenish-brown. Average measure- 

 ments 16 X 12 mm. 



SYLYIA NANA DESERTI (Loche). 

 WESTEEN DESERT-WAEBLEE. 



Stoparola desertii, Loche, Rev. et Mag. cle Zool. 1858, p. 391, pi. xi, 



fig. i, id. Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. i. p. 245 (1867). 

 Sylvia nana deserti, Erlanger, J. f. 0. 1899, p. 269. 



Description. — Adult male, July, from Oumsinerma, Tripoli. 



Upper plumage sandy isabelline, paler on the crown and mantle, and 

 more rufescent on the lower back and upper tail-coverts ; quills grey, 

 margined -with rufescent -isabelline ; central rectrices rufous-isabelline ; 

 outer pair of rectrices white, the remainder blackish-brown, margined 



